A man who had a ‘nasty’ craft knife hidden in his hoodie pocket when police searched him has been locked up.

Frederick Ingleton was found guilty of possession of a bladed article following a trial at magistrates’ court.

The 35-year-old had claimed that he found the knife in the hoodie pocket after he bought it, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said when Ingleton was arrested on Church Street, Hartlepool, on December 10 last year he was serving a conditional discharge and urged the officers to give him a chance after they caught him carrying the knife.

Stephen Constantine, representing Ingleton, said his client’s most significant problem at the time was his homelessness and transient lifestyle.

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He said: “He has been sofa-surfing or living on the streets for more than four and a half years – clearly he has some issues.”

Judge Chris Smith jailed the defendant for 38 weeks.

“I have to sentence you for possession of that nasty little craft knife,” he said.

“I say nasty, it’s only small but very sharp. It is easily concealed by a clenched fist. These blades can do very serious harm in the wrong hands.”